Eons ago, in a galaxy far away... the wife and I became foster parents for the first time. Our ultimate goal was to adopt a couple of kids to call our own. That did and didn't work out so well, but that's another story entirely.

Over the years we had a lot of different kids in our home. Over the on and off space of about ten years we had forty or fifty different kids staying with us. The shortest stay was overnight. The longest was a couple of years.

At one point we had eleven kids in our house at the same time. That was horrible.

Anyway, each time they brought us another kid they brought us most of their stuff jammed into black plastic trash bags. Not luggage or even cardboard boxes. Just a pile of black plastic trash bags.

I always thought that was kind of a sad commentary on how kids were being treated.

When they left us we tried to at least send them on with some halfway decent cardboard boxes to keep their stuff in. It was the least we could do.

Our house has been completely kid free for the last couple of years now and alot of the old scars were fading and I was really enjoying the peace and quiet. I was becoming a hermit and liking it.

This weekend our adopted daughter shows up with her two little girls. They'd lost their place and needed somewhere to stay until she got back on her feet again.

We couldn't say no, of course. And we can't afford to rent her an apartment. So what choice did we have, really?

Now once again, after numerous trips back and forth to pick up her stuff and bring it all here.....

There's a large pile of black plastic trash bags in my garage full of toys and kids clothes. And strange kids sleeping in our guest room again.

And one day soon something either good or bad will happen and they will go away.

I'm really starting to hate black plastic trash bags.

Okay, I'm done. Just had to get that off of my chest.

Tuesday is going to be Old Maid's Day, Audacity To Hope Day, Doo-Dah Day (The national salute to silliness) and National Cheese Day.

18 comments:

You're a good man, Rev and Miz Rev. We had Chuck and Nicole stay with us twice for a while when I was still married to the ex. I did get to see the grandbabies every day, which made me happy. And we helped out.

We have spoken briefly about this before (I still have that post sitting and waiting to be submitted so you know)and you know how I feel about the fostering and adoption thing, so you also know I have great respect for you for being able to open your home to strangers like that.

To do so again, when the stranger is not so strange but adds more strangers to a strange situation, well that is just as strange, for people like you are few and far between. A good man indeed. I think I could do that again and put a few more "strange" in there to make the over comment beyond strange, from a stranger such as myself. Methinks. :)

"...alot of the scars were fading..." The only difference between you & Jesus is that he was crucified only once.Well, at least you got to be a hermit for while anyway. Ask any 90 year old man, what it's like to be alone & I'm sure your answer would be in the form of tears.

I love this quote: "Love is a sacred reserve of energy; it is like the blood of spiritualevolution". Hang in there. Got a feeling it's all gonna turn out good this time, grim black trash bags & all...

Fracking trash bags. Pisses me off that the government never provided luggagefor your Foster kids. Even Otzi the Iceman packed a backpack & leather bag on hisfinal journey into the Alps. Just another cold reminder that we should live our lives as a revolution & not just a process of evolution.

SEO -Do you know this couple? Are they your friends?No? Then get the frack out of here &mind your own damn business.They already have a garage filled with bags of toys & kids clothes.Go solicit your crap somewhere else.

The man isn't asking for or wanting anything. He's just -sharing- what's on his mind.Which is what writers do.

signed: loyal stray guard dog thatprobably should never have been fed-

I think most adults have had to stop in at their parents house once or twice for longer than either party would like. I know I have. But as long has you are the parents who welcome the "brief" visit, all will be well. :)